Testosterone and RSD
 

I'm not sure if this has been talked about here before so please disregard if it has. However, my Neurologist told me that testosterone replacement has been shown to help in chronic pain patients. He gave me a script, it's been two weeks and I can tell a HUGE difference. Before, I was counting the seconds before I could take my next pain pill...now, I'm going an extra 3 hours before I need another one.

My doctor mailed this great article on testosterone and why we should be taking it. If anyone is interested in reading it, I would be happy to scan and upload tomorrow after work. It came from the Practical Pain Management Journal, July/August 2010. Thanks. Tiff

I did read that article. Are there any side effects?

No. Not at all and/or not yet (I've been taking this for 2 1/2 weeks now). My pain level averaged about a 5-6 on any given day and I am now averaging about a 2 consistently. It's amazing and I would highly suggest that you give it a try and/or at least have your levels checked...it couldn't hurt right?

I would be very interested in the article. So happy this is working for you.

To all in this thread, I have suffered low testosterone since my 2nd traumatic accident, which caused a TBI. (TraumaticBrain injury). Who's to say what 'Traumatic is / means?
So, now they're all called that.

I lost all 'interest' in my business's, my children, (who although I raised them by myself, w/ RSD, and won't even speak to me now), 2nd wife who was hyper sexual, I forgot all my duties, jobs, and inherent husbandly duties.

I couldn't win.. Still can't!
I'm one of these folks, who have millions in legal, insured losses, and can't find a lawyer to get involved. (It's too difficult, or, my wife will crash me, or, whatever they can think of).

Many Attorneys!
They MUST Run from Legal Malpractice! They will NOT sue a friend, or acquaintance.....

Don't matter to me, I'll find one who will!

It seems to me, that the more honest an attorney, the more he'd be willing to take on a Legal Malpractice case. AND,
NEVER, Ever sign on with an attorney who is NOT covered for at least, several millions in Malpractice insurance! These bastards live off of insurance Co'.s , and yet, don't pay into the pool, simply because they're not afraid!
I can't name to you, ONE single home improvement Co., Doctor, etc. who is Not required BY LAW to have liability insurance! WHY NOT ATTORNEYS?
I'd like your help here michael!


Anyway, Im sorry for getting off track.
I'm going to get my blood work done, and then get my Testosterone adjusted!

I can't wait!
Thanks!!!

Pete
asb

Thanks for the tip!
 

Thank you Tiff!
I find this very intriguing! My hormone levels were pretty much zilch when tested. I was diagnosed with hyPOthyroid too tho.....
I'm gonna run this by the Peripheral Neuropathy crew to see what they say!
My pain diagnosis is 'vague'.......some Drs pinned it as PN, others RSD.....

Heck, if testosterone helps alleviate the pain, then bring it on! :D......even if I grow a beard in the process......:rolleyes:

Are there any side effects as such??

Thanks again for sharing!
Rae
:hug:

My wife has the RSD, my testosterone levels are ok, I think. :) Honestly my concern is what Rrae mentioned, Suzy growing a beard, a muscular manly appearance could add new issues on our already full plate. I did mention testosterone to her who argued that she never complains about her pain, men are sissies about a simple scratch etc. I said, "look, I don't want to get into a pissing contest..........about male, female pain etc..it's a harmone darn it, all I'm saying is take a closer look. This was all in fun, it got pretty funny really. But on a serious note, I think there maybe something to it. It could be one reason why females, by a large margin acquire RSD in the first place perhaps.

I've replied to Rrae's question this morning at PN:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread137345.html

I do think anyone considering testosterone, male or female should have testing first.

Hormones are delicately balanced in the body, and taking too much of any one, will lead to consequences down the line.

Testosterone is also carried in the blood by carrier proteins.
If protein intake or digestion is impaired in the body for any reason, the hormone doesn't function at the targets well.

So testing for albumin may point to fixing that! People who use acid blocking drugs do not break down protein properly in the GI tract even when they eat it. Switching to some Whey protein shakes, can help this, since the amino acids are predigested.

Another way to help reduce pain is to improve mitochondrial functions. This will lead to more stamina and less pain.
d-ribose can help with that. It is being used in fibro now.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ghlight=ribose
Ribose is a 5 carbon sugar, not found in food, which is part of ADP and ATP formation in the mitochondria. By restoring that function may help the cells to function better.

Chronic pain is also high in patients with very low Vit D3 status.
Improving D levels has been shown in studies to reduce reliance on potent opiate therapies. We have many threads here including on Vitamin forum discussing the new Vit D research.

This link illustrates chronic opiate therapy and male low testosterone:
http://www.druglib.com/trial/19/NCT00351819.html

And here is how the testing is done:
http://thepainsource.com/2010/09/tes...aking-opioids/

The dosing for females will be much different from males I suspect, if therapy is done.

Article
 

Attached is the article that my doctor mailed to me. It's a super article if you have time to read it. And again, my testosterone levels were low to begin with so that might be why it's helping me so much. I haven't felt this great in 2 years (crps in my right arm).

With regards to the side effects...I really don't have any that I know of...yet :) Please let me know what you think. I'd also be interested to know if anyone else is taking testosterone.

I am curious as to what dose you are being given, as a female. Do you use opoids for pain?

:)
 

I just got my levels checked just because I knew they were off, and I have had problems since I have been 14 with that. And all the ordinary tests came back normal, and then he got my hormone levels and they were wack. I haven't started in like 5 months (which is fine with me) but i know its bad. SO he put me on hormones and then birth control to level my hormones out. I haven't noticed it do anything to the pain... as I just had a ketamine infusion yesterday and I feel like an energizer bunny. It not good to have your hormones out of wack... so its good to get it checked!

I know that long term opiod use affects (lowers) testosterone levels, and where my subdural hematoma occured, at the top of my brain stem, put direct pressure on my pituitary and the gland underneath it (sorry, forget it's name) which regulates testosterone and other hormones, So I've got two strikes against me.
I've taken testosterone, and it has helped, in a couple ways.

But, my doc wants bloodwork now to start using it again, and his concern is mostly (as I understand it) my blood levels, as I should also be on a Statin.. Testosterone affects that too. So, as MRS D said, we really should be tested before just taking testosterone.
(which usually comes in a Gel form, or Gel in a patch).

Be well,

Pete
asb

Are these forms of testosterone available OTC or do you have to have a prescription?
My local health store sells topical progesterone and estrogen hormone supplements over the counter.....just wondering if the topical testosterone is available as such?

Hi Mrs. D. Thanks so much. I am taking ESTRGN METHTEST 1.25/2.5MG TAB. I was taking premarin for a full hysterectomy I had back in 2000 and we just switched to this med a few weeks ago.

I do use opoids for pain. I have the option of utilizing up to 8 norco/day. The strength is 10/325 I believe. I also combine that with tramadol, if needed (up to 4/day). I've tried the extended release opiods but they make my heart race and as such I'm not able to take them. I am also taking nortriptyline, topamax and a slew of vitamins (including prescription strength vitamin D).

I should have asked how low my testosterone level was and will the next time I go in. But, I can tell a huge difference with my pain level and have to attribute it to the testosterone. And, it seems so weird that something like this can help so much with my pain levels.

Thanks for that drug info. Oral agents to deliver testosterone, are not really efficient. Males for example are never given oral, but use topical or injected for that reason.

So I would think your intake is not delivering a high amount orally. The reason for this is that the testosterone passes thru the liver after being in the GI tract, and the liver really metabolizes it out. Food and drugs absorbed orally go thru the portal system thru the liver first before entering the rest of the body's blood stream. This is called "first pass" phenomenon.

Doses by injection for males typically start at 100 or 200mg a shot.

And in reference to Rrae's question I don't know of any testosterone OTC product. There are anabolic steroids which orally are being monitored closely now by the FDA...they have some androgenic actions. I don't know what their status is now however OTC.

The progesterone creams typically are from Wild Yam, and are thought not to be really active as hormone supplements.

There is a way to pump up sex hormone production by the body OTC, and that is called pregnenalone:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnenolone

http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetCo...chunkiid=21848

This article is one of many suggesting that some hormones may improve sensory pain issues at the spinal cord level:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18434133

Occasionally the Traumatic Brain Injury forum here has posts about using progesterone for brain injuries/concussions.
If you search "progesterone" on that forum you'll find those links.

So the bottom line is that using an oral pill for a female, is common, especially in the menopause treatments, and has been around for many years. It does not have dangerous high dose potential therefore.